Saving Lives In Slow Motion Dr Ayan Panja

This week I look at hormones and how they are crucial to our health. From our adrenal glands to our thyroid through to our sex hormones, they are important to keep in balance much like instruments in an orchestra.
Endocrine overview: https://www.epa.gov/endocrine-disruption/overview-endocrine-system
Steroid pathway diagram: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41435-021-00139-3
Oxytocin: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/oxytocin-the-love-hormone
Sleep and hormones: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3065172/
Exercise in menopause: https://www.lancastergeneralhealth.org/health-hub-home/2021/february/why-you-should-exercise-your-way-through-menopause
HRT benefits: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/benefits-and-risks-of-hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/
Meditation and hormones: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306453097000036
Magnesium, yes, but zinc is also important: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7468694/
Plastics and their effect on our hormones (as a toxin): https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-chemicals-in-plastics-impact-your-endocrine-system/
THE HEALTH FIX: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Dr-Ayan-Panja/dp/1914239326/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

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Yoga has been practised for thousands of years but as many people are cynical about trying it as there are huge fans of it.
In this episode I share my own experiences and the benefits yoga can confer to our health. 
Links:
Barriers to yoga (Nepalese sudy): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8039334/
Yoga effects on brain health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6971819/
The warrior positions: https://www.yogawitholivia.co.uk/blog/transitions1
Yoga and inflammation: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8842003/
Yogic breathing benefits: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7336946/
Summary of benefits and starter guide:
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/fitness/yoga/a706996/benefits-of-yoga/
Yoga courses and learning: https://ukyoga.co.uk/courses/
Sacropenia and how to prevent it: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sarcopenia
Dean Ornish and heart disease reversal: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/188274

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Perfectionism has risen in the workplace in recent years. It can be a huge positive in terms of work standards but also predisposes people to stress, anxiety and burnout.
In this episode I look at ways to capitalise on its strengths and mitigate any negatives. Not sure if you are one? Take the quiz below.

Links: 
Take the quiz - are you a perfectionist?: https://www.livewellwithsharonmartin.com/qsm_quiz/perfectionist-quiz/
Perfectionism in younger generations: https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/unreasonable-demands-lead-to-substantial-rise-in-perfectionism-among-young-people/
Downsides of perfectionism: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180219-toxic-perfectionism-is-on-the-rise
DSM-V - classification of perfectionism: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886914001354
Mindfulness: https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/


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This is an argument that rages on in the world of nutrition and medicine. In this episode I look at what food is, what it does to us in terms of our health and the mechanisms behind it and give you my verdict on whether I consider it to be medicine or not.
Ultra processed foods - review: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10899807/
Protein benefits: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-reasons-to-eat-more-protein
Blue Zones diets: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/what-is-the-blue-zones-diet
Herbs and spices with health benefits: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-healthy-herbs-and-spices
Akkermansia mucinophilia in IBD: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1089600/full
T Reg cells - what are they?
:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.878382/full
Apples and their in vitro benefits: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5490512/
The all important Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (now a therapeutic target for big pharmaceutical companies): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221323172300023X
Short chain fatty acids and heart disease: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24388214/#

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High blood pressure is the biggest modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is still the leading cause of death worldwide.
It’s often called a silent killer because it has usually has no symptoms.
This episode give you the lowdown on high blood pressure (also known as essential hypertension).

Links:
WHO page: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension
NICE guideline for hypertension: https://www.england.nhs.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/11/NICE-NG136-Visual-Summary.pdf
A summary of high blood pressure: https://www.healthline.com/health/high-blood-pressure-hypertension
Vitamin D and blood pressure in African-Americans: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3775458/
Salt and potassium: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7697211/
Low carb diets and blood pressure: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6695889/
Potassium enriched salt and blood pressure: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10863666/
Salt substitutes: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9532913/
Measuring blood pressure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfwBpBXUYHs
Why blood pressure matters: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-combating-high-blood-pressure/health-matters-combating-high-blood-pressure#
Resperate - the evidence is mixed, the effects small and it is not a substitute for any medication:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/expert-answers/resperate/faq-20057998#
https://northyorkshireccg.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/NYCCG-Resp-Devices-Hypertension_v1.0_01.07.2021.pdf

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Mind Body Medicine is fascinating but has been poorly understood over the years. I believe it is more important to try to understand better now more than ever as we are surrounded by medically unexplained symptoms and non-communicable symptoms and diseases. 
In this episode I look at the origins and theories behind it as well as link to the evidence in the show notes.
Links:
The Holmes-Rahe Stress scale: https://www.mindtools.com/avn893g/the-holmes-and-rahe-stress-scale
The effectiveness of mind-body medicine (narrative): https://journals.lww.com/mjhs/fulltext/2023/11020/effectiveness_of_mind_body_medicine.2.aspx
Somatising: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/somatic-symptom-disorder/what-is-somatic-symptom-disorder
Opinion piece - a new ear of mind body medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7486127/#
Views on Dr Sarno’s work: https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/10/2/16338094/dr-john-sarno-healing-back-pain
Mind Body Medicine in Crohn’s Disease: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnint.2022.960301/full
Mindfulness and meditation - effects on stress:
https://www.apa.org/topics/mindfulness/meditation
Repressed emotions and physical health: https://www.healthline.com/health/repressed-emotions
Heart rate variability and stress: https://www.webmd.com/heart/what-is-heart-rate-variability
Mechanisms on how writing can help: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7957853/
Journaling and heart failure: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4927423/
Psychoneuroimmunology during COVID-19: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9075982/
THE HEALTH FIX: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Health-Fix-Dr-Ayan-Panja/dp/1914239326/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

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